Concrete block packing machine



Feb. 20, 1951 z. A. BABcocK CONCRETE BLOCK PACKING MACHINE .2' sheets-sheet 1 Filed sept. 17, i948 NN. NN

INVENTOR';

farro/mfr@ Rigby wh, hh

Feb. 20, 1951 z. A. BABcocK 2,541,981

CONCRETE BLOCK PACKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Paiaiied Feb. zo, 1951 s PATENT OFFICE CONCRETE BLOCK PACKING MACHINE Zehe AQBabcock, Cass City, Mich., assigner to Ben R. Smutek, Detroit, Michl' Application September 17, 1948,-Serial No. 49,702

My invention relates to concrete block packing machines, of the type wherein the freshlypoured concrete block is subjected to vibration to pack or compact the same.

Withthe foregoing in view, an object of my invention is to provide an improved concrete block packing machine of the class described.

A further object is to provide an improved concrete block packing machine including means mounting a packing head for linearmovement into and out of an operative position engaging a block, means for imparting rapid hammery blows Ato the head to vibrate the saine on said block, a motor operating said vibrating means, and means automatically starting and stopping said motor upon movement of said head intoand out of said operative position.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, the structure o1 the elements forming the several parts there- -in connection with the following specification,

wherein the invention is shown, described uand claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the device according to the invention, parts being broken away;

Figure 2 is a vertical the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the device looking from the left of Figure'l; i

Figure "4 isa vertical sectional view right angles to the section of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on thev plane of the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

'Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, I0 designates a pedestal of tubular configuration mounted on any suitable base, not shown. The pedestal III has pivotally mounted therein a vertical stem Il. An upper portion of the Apedestal sectional `view through taken ai I0 has .xed thereto a collar I2 which may be `secured in adjusted relation thereon by a thumb screWt-III. The collar I 2 has fixed thereon an upand .tlelfree outer end thereofy is formed with a .vertially-extending 'sleeve I6, the purpose of 1|8'for a concrete block I9.- Thus, the limit stop I3 may be so adjusted as to stop the arm I5 and sleeveA I6 when the same are so positioned that the sleeve I 6 overlies the block I9 axially thereof.

The sleeve I6 has fixed thereon adjacent the upper edge thereof a pair of laterally-spaced lhorizontal journals 23 in which is journaled a shaft 24. The shaft 24has fixed thereon between thejournals 23 a pinion 25. One end of the shaft 24 extends laterally outwardly of the sleeve I6 and is formed with a crank 26, whereby to rotate the shaft and pinion. The housing 2U has a vertically-disposed rack 21 formed on one side there- .of in operative mesh with the pinion 25, whereby rotation of the shaft 24 causes vertical adjusting .movement of the housing 20 in the sleeve I6. The sleeve I5 may be vertically slotted, as at 31, to accommodate the vertical movement of the rack 21. The lower end of the housing 20 extends belowthe sleeve I 6 and has fixed thereto by any suitable means 2l a packing head 22 which preferably substantially conforms to the interior dimensions of the mold box I8, whereby upon downward movement .of the sleeve 2D, the head 22 is brought into operative engagement with the mold -block I9. l

To lock the housing 20 in a vertically-adjusted position relative to the sleeve I6, there is provided a bracket 28 including a spring housing through which the stem v29 of latch extends. The latch includes a laterally-directed arm 33 extending behind the sleeve I6 and inwardly-directed latch dog 3| which is :substantially parallel to the stein 29. The latchv dog 3! is slidable in a tubular boss 32 formed-on the side of the sleeve I E toward Ithe housing I9. The housing 29 is provided with Ia vertical series of latch detents '33 with which the latch dog 3| is adapted to be 'selectivelyengaged to lock the housing in vertically-adjusted positions relative to the sleeve. The bracket 28, as aforesaid, is hollow and pro- "vide's an enclosure for. a coil spring 35 concentrically disposed about the stem 29. The stem 29 is preferably formed with a collar or cross-pin 36 interiorly of the housing and operatively engag- Vin'gith'e spring 35 to compress the same when the stein 239 is moved from right to left, Figure 5. A

finger grip 34 may be formed on the free end of the vstem 29. Thus, when the stem 29 is pushed `from right `to left, Figure 5, thedog 3I is disenof. v'tends in the opposite direction below a shaft '52 3 gaged from the latch detent 33 to permit vertical adjustment of the housing relative to the sleeve l by means of the rack and pinion arrangement previously described.

A. substantially cylindrical hammer 4i) is vertically reciprocable inwardly of the sleeve 20 to impart vi-bratory hammer blows to the head 22, whereby the vibration thereby created is transmitted to the yconcrete block I to compact the same in a -well known manner. The upper end of the hammer 4U is uniformly reduced to provide a substantially annular shoulder 4I defining an axially upwardly-directed stem '42 for the hammer. The stem 42 extends througha hole 43 in a bracket 44 rigidly secured in any 'suitable manner to the upper end of the housing 2G transversely thereof. A coil spring 45 is concentrically disposed about the stem 42 inwardly of the housof the stem Q2 thereof `is slotted, as at 5S, for the :reception of one arm 41 of a rock lever 4'8. The

rock lever 48 is fixed on a cross-shaft t9 which is `iournaled for rocking movement in a pair of fifertically-directed ournal-providing ears 5i) A.car-

ried by the bracket 44 on the upper surface there- The other arm 5I Aof the rock lever 48 exwhich is likewise iournaled for rotation between the ears 5t. The shaft :52 has fixed thereon for `rotation therewith a cam 53 which may be pr vided with a pair of diametrically opposit'ely-dis- `posed cam lobes 54 adapted to enga/gethe arm V5I of the rock lever 8 and rock the same. Such 'rocking movement `through the 'opposite arm 4l reciprocates the hammer 4G, such reciprocation being accelerated in a downward direction bythe thrust of the spring 45 in a well known manner.

One end of the shaft '52 extends laterally outwardly vofthe ears 55 .and has fixed thereon any suitable pulley 55 which is :connected by means of a belt 5E to the drive pulley '5l :of an electric 'n'frotor 58. The 'motor 58 is controlled automatifcally by means of an automatic switch carried 'by switch housing 59 fixed to the upper end of the sleeve I5 in any suitable manner. The housing 5.9 includes a switchbutton 6G which extends laterally outwardly of the housing .and is biased in an outward position :by any suitable means, not

shown, whereby to maintain the switch, not shown, in the housing '59 in an open position. Any suitable cable 63 connects the 'switch housing with a second switch .housing carried by the motor which lcontains the VVlead 6 'to any suitable source of electric current.

vthe arm E22 as the housing 2i) and platform 44 is moved downwardly toward the operative position for the head 22. Thus, as the lower len-d of .the arm 62 engages the switch button 65, the button is moved laterally from left to right, Figures vl --and 12, to close the switch andthereby close a circuit .to the motor 5B. In this connection, it is .assumed that 'the switch for thehousing 65 on the motor is already in the closed position. Thus,

fas lan operator :of the 4machine cranks the housing 22) downwardly to bring the head `22 to an erative position by means of the latch dog 3l aforesaid. When the block I 9 has been suin- Rciently compacted, the latch dog 3| is released and the housing 2,9 cranked upwardly until the arm E2 clears the switch button 60, at which time the motor 58 is automatically stopped by virtue of the opening of the circuit thereto. Thus, the mold box I8 and the block I9 contained therein may be removed from .the table I'l and a new uncompacted block substituted therefor. Meanwhile, the sleeve I6 has been swung laterally out of registry with the table I'I. When .a new mold `box I8 has been placed on the table Il, thearm I5 is swung back into engagement with the stop I3, whereby the parts are automatically centered over the .mold box I8. Thereafter, the housing i2@ is cranked downwardly to bring the head 22 into operative vposition relative to the block I9. This cycle is repeated indefinitely until the end of la working period, at which :time the motor may be permanently `shut 01T by the switch the switch housing S5.

While I have shownand described what isnow thought to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the .precise structure ,shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

1. .A concrete ,block packing machine, comprising a pedestal, an arm pivotally adjustable on said pedestal, a vertically-disposed sleeve formed on said arm, a tubular housing vertically .'slidable in said sleeve, said housing vincluding a lower end providing a packing head, a shaft includinga crank journaled on said sleeve, a pinion fixed .to said shaft, a rack fixed to said housing and operatively meshed with said pinion whereby to adjust said housing vertically in Vsaid sleeve and move said head into and out of an operative position, a hammer vertically reciprocable Vin said housing for imparting packing blows to said head, said housing including an upperend providing a bracket, a motor mounted on said bracket, `and nmeans loperatively connecting said motor to sai hammer for reciprocating the latter. i

2. A concrete block packing machine, comprisingapedestaLan arm pivotally adjustable on said pedestal, avertically-disposed sleeve formed crank journaled on said sleeve, a pinion fixed to said shaft, a rack fixed to `said housing and operati-vely meshed with said pinion whereby'to adjust said housing vertically in said sleeve and move said head into and out of an operative position, a latch carried by lsaid sleeve, said housing being formed `with a vertically-disposed series of latch detents engageable with said latch :for releasably locking said Vhousing in a selectedvertically-adjusted position relative to said sleeve, a hammer vertically reciproca-ble in said housing 'l'for yimparting packing blows to .said head, said housing including an upper end providing a bracket, a motor mounted on said bracket, and means operatively connecting said motor to said hammer for reciprocating the latter.

3. A concrete block packing machine, comprising a base, a vertically-disposed sleeve formed on said base, a tubular housing vertically slidable in said sleeve, said housing including a lower end providing a packing' head, a shaft including a crank journaled on said sleeve transversely thereof, a pinion Xed to said shaft, a rack Xed to said housing longitudinally thereof and operatively meshed with said pinion whereby to adjust said housing vertically in said sleeve and move said head into and out of an operative position, a latch carried by said sleeve, said housing being formed with a vertically-disposed series of latch detents engageable with said latch for releasably locking said housing in a selected verticallyadjusted position relative to said sleeve, said housing including an upper end providing a bracket, an electric motor carried by said bracket, a switch for said motor carried 4by said sleeve, means biasing said switch to an open position, an arm fixed to said bracket and depending therefrom, and said arm being engageable with said switch to close the same upon downward movement of said bracket and housing to move said head to said operative position.

4. A concrete block packing machine comprising a pedestal, an arm pivotally adjustable on said pedestal, a vertically disposed sleeve formed on said arm, a tubular housing vertically slidable in said sleeve, a packing head secured to the lower end of said housing, means operatively interconnecting said sleeve and housing for adjusting the latter vertically in said sleeve to thereby move said head into and out of an operative position, means carried by said sleeve and engageable with said housing for releasably locking said housing in a selected vertically adjusted position relative to said sleeve, a hammer vertically reciprocable in said housing for imparting packing blows to said head, said housing including an upper end providing a bracket, a motor mounted on said bracket, and means operatively connecting said motor to said hammer for reciprocating the latter.

5. A concrete block packing machine comprising a pedestal, an arm pivotally adjustable on said pedestal, a vertically disposed sleeve formed for; said arm, a tubular housing vertically slidable in said sleeve, a packing head secured to the lower end of said housing, a shaft including a crank journaled on said sleeve, a pinion fixed vto saidshaft, a rack Xed to said housing and operatively mashed with said pinion whereby to adjust said housing vertically in said sleeve and move said head into and out of an operative position, means carried by said sleeve and engage- -able with said housing for releasably locking said yhousing in a selected vertically adjusted position relative to said sleeve, a hammer vertically reciprocable in said housing for imparting packing blows to said head, said housing including an upper end providing a bracket, a motor mounted l. on said bracket, and means operatively connecti ing said motor to said hammer for reciprocating the latter. y 6. A concrete block packing machine comprising a pedestal, an arm pivotally adjustable on said pedestal, a vertically disposed sleeve formed on said arm, a tubular housing vertically slidable in said sleeve, a packing head secured to the .f a hammer vertically reciprocable in said housing for imparting packing blows to said head, said housing including an upper end providing a bracket, a motor mounted on said bracket, and means operatively connecting said motor to said hammer for reciprocating the latter.

ZEBE A. BABCOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 610,524 Cleveland Sept. 13, 1898 1,706,121 Laughlin, Sr., et al. Mar. 19, 1929 1,814,416 Stoney July 14, 1931 

